The new EU Travel Package Directive was published last week. Regrettably UK industry attempts to get the travel element recognised as the principal component of any package failed. However, some potentially useful changes have been agreed which may well allow many smaller tourism and visitor economy businesses to offer additional services without falling foul of the Directive’s onerous conditions.

The next stage of the process will see the new Directive being translated in to UK law, probably during 2015, at which point there will be formal consultation and an opportunity to influence the outcomes in our favour. No immediate action is needed but for those wishing to know a little more of the detail or to access the Directive see: